ESRC Council member
Professor Christina Boswell is a member of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Council.
Professor Christina Boswell FBA FAcSS FRSE is Professor of Politics at The University of Edinburgh, where her research focuses on the role of research in policy and comparative immigration policy. Major contributions include her books, ‘The Political Uses of Expert Knowledge’ (2009), ‘Manufacturing Political Trust’ (2018), and ‘States of Ignorance’ (2024), all published with Cambridge University Press.
She has a track record of senior leadership roles in higher education institutions, including as Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at The University of Edinburgh from 2022 to 2025, and as Vice President for Public Policy at the British Academy from 2021 to 2026.
Alongside her research, Christina has enjoyed a series of policy advisory roles, including for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, European Commission and Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Recent roles include:
- Chair of the Scottish Government Expert Advisory Group on Migration and Population
- member of the Home Office Scientific Advisory Council
- Expert Advisor to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on International Research Talent
Last updated: 1 April 2026